Knight Frank has hired Canary Wharf Group’s managing director of offices Katie Oliphant.
Oliphant joins KF as proprietary partner and member of its London offices board after 12 years at CWG, where she was most recently responsible for its office portfolio, overseeing design and development, leasing and asset management.
She also played a key role in the creation of Level39, one of London’s most successful tech accelerators, and MadeFor, Canary Wharf’s flexible workspace offer.
Richard Archer, also a managing director for offices, remains at CWG.
It is a return to the agency world for Oliphant, who started her career at CBRE and spent almost a decade in its central London office agency business.
She joins Knight Frank’s 100-strong London offices team and will be tasked with providing clients with expert knowledge and insights, while helping to expand growing sectors including life sciences, ESG, flexible offices and global occupier solutions.
Philip Hobley, partner and head of London offices at Knight Frank, said: “Katie is a highly respected figure in London real estate and will add a new client-led perspective to one of the strongest teams in the London market. She has a deep understanding of modern workplace requirements and has been involved in some of London’s most innovative and successful office developments.
“Her experience will be invaluable as we advise the capital’s leading developers and asset managers on the design, delivery and management of best-in-class office space.”
“It has been an enormous privilege to have worked at Canary Wharf Group,” said Oliphant. “It is well positioned for the opportunities ahead, with an exciting future as it has become a mixed use neighbourhood with best in class offices, residential, retail and leisure. I look forward to continuing to work with the strong team at Canary Wharf Group albeit in a new role at Knight Frank.”
Knight Frank senior partner and group chair William Beardmore-Gray added: “Katie is a key hire for our partnership. Knight Frank will continue to grow sustainably and recruit the best in the business and Katie will bring significant expertise to the firm.
“London remains the global centre for real estate and despite the difficult current market, we want to make sure we have the best people in our team partnering with clients to deliver brilliant outcomes.”
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